COSTUME PARTIES & CONTESTS

Costumes in Candyland

It doesn’t sound like organizers modeled this bash after the board game you played with grandma. Rather, the body-paint encouragers were seemingly inspired by the fleshier, Snoop-inhabited candyland depicted in Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” video — because isn’t smutting up childhood relics what Halloween’s really about? The sweets-themed soirée at Muse features a chocolate fountain, all the candy you can handle and music from DJs Brownie, Strangelove, Tinkand Travis “Tek” Olson. (9 p.m. Sat. $12-$20. Muse Event Center, 107 3rd Av. N., Mpls., www.kaskaidevents.com.)

Jake Rudh knows how to throw a mean dance party, and his Halloween edition of Transmission is no different. Last year’s party hit the Varsity Theater’s capacity in two hours. This year it will take on a darkly humorous angle (think Tim Burton, Oingo Boingo and “Tales From the Crypt”), with prizes for best costume, photo booth and music videos projected on the big screen. (10:30 p.m. Wed. Free. Varsity Theater, 1308 SE. 4th St., Mpls.)

Whether you have a serious costume that you think has a shot at winning the $1,000 grand prize or just want to get down with some of the most creatively costumed people in town, First Avenue’s annual party is the place to be every Halloween. This year’s bash features sets from DJFooLProoF and MC Cloudof Forever Young, DJEspada, DJ Smitty andRoy Freedomand hostIan Rans. (8 p.m. Oct. 31. $5-$10. 18 & older. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388 or www.first-avenue.com.)

BareBones Productions’ signature event rings in its 20th year. The Extravaganza is a visual feat of DIY ingenuity from more than 250 artists, puppeteers and volunteers, with performers donning handmade papier-mâché masks of various creatures. It’s an experience that combines larger-than-life puppetry with performance art, live music by theBrass Messengers and the Poor Nobodys, and a dose of pagan spiritualism. (7 p.m. Sat., Sun. and Oct. 31-Nov. 2. $5-$10 donation. Hidden Falls Regional Park, Mississippi River Blvd. S. at Magoffin Av., St. Paul. www.barebonespuppets.org)

For most of us, pumpkin decorating amounts to little more than crudely carved jack-o’-lanterns. But Public Functionary’s Halloween party will make you want to put down that steak knife and pick up a paintbrush. Artist-designed pumpkins will be on display, along with trick-or-treating stations, DJs, slow-mo video and photo booths and face-painting stations. Snag your own artful pumpkin for $25 a pop at www.fundly.com/great-pumpkin by Wednesday; proceeds benefit the gallery. (4-10 p.m. Oct. 31., 5-10 p.m. Nov 1. Free. Public Functionary, 1400 12th Av. NE., Mpls. www.publicfunctionary.org/great-pumpkin.)

BURLESQUE

If you like your scares with a side of flesh, there’s plenty of titillation to be found this Halloween. Burlesque troupe Le Cirque Rougeholds court at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall’s Halloween ball, which will include tarot card readers and the Switchblade Sideshow. (8 p.m. Fri. $15-$100. Amsterdam Bar & Hall, 6 W. 6th St., St. Paul. www.amsterdam­barandhall.com.)

St. Paul’s Lowertown is the setting for the sixth annual Boos Crawl, traveling through spots such as Barrio, Black Dog, the Bulldog, Hat Trick Lounge and Señor Wong, with perks including a free drink at each location, a raffle and cash prizes for best costume. (7 p.m. Sat. $20. www.blackdogstpaul.com.)